Burglars hit charitable nonprofit ... again

Bill Fogarty, executive director of United Labor Agency of Orange County, shows off his new security measures after the pantry in the underground parking garage was the scene where thieves stole more than $100,000 in donated toys and food destined for underprivileged children and families during the Thanksgiving weekend. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,

GARDEN GROVE – A local nonprofit targeted by thieves who stole truckloads of food and toys meant for the underprivileged over Thanksgiving weekend has been hit again by burglars who broke in and stole a laptop and camera from the office over the weekend, officials said.

The burglar smashed a 2-by2-foot bottom window to gain entry into the office of the United Labor Agency of Orange County, said Garden Grove police Lt. Travis Whitman.

Bill Fogarty, executive director of the nonprofit, says the last few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster ride, which began when someone broke into their underground storage facility and helped themselves to at least 1,000 donated toys and about 20,000 pounds of food collected through various drives to feed the hungry.

The total loss was estimated at about $150,000.

"We were absolutely devastated after the first time when all the food and toys were stolen," he said. "This is just another big blow. I don't know if I have words to describe about emotional and heart-wrenching this has all been. I was ready to call it quits on Sunday after this happened."

Whitman said the recent break-in occurred sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Police have found no evidence yet linking the two burglaries, but have not ruled it out, he said.

"We've collected DNA evidence from the scene, which we are processing right now," Whitman said.

So far, there are no suspects in either burglary case, he said.

Whitman said it is possible for the same location to be targeted by burglars more than once.

"This location especially received a lot of publicity in the news media," he said. "That was probably a factor."

Fogarty said the publicity from the media helped replenish what the group had lost in the initial burglary. They received more toys than were stolen -- including 2,000 from the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots drive.

In fact, Fogarty said, they even donated toys to another Santa Ana organization that lost donations in a warehouse fire this month. Fogarty said they also received 12,000 pounds of food from other nonprofits, local corporations and a number of community members who reached out.

"We have served 259 families so far," he said.

But Sunday's burglary has crushed his spirit, Fogarty said. The burglars not only broke a window and stole some items, but also left a mess behind with scattered papers and drawers turned inside out. Fogarty hopes cleaning up after burglars doesn't become a routine for him and staff members.

But he says a hug from a family that received a donation of food and toys today helped revive his Christmas spirit.

Fogarty says the need for food goes beyond Christmas.

"Hunger doesn't stop on Dec. 25," he said. "A bulk of the food we lost in this burglary was really our backup food stored for after the holidays when donations are hard to come by. What worries me more is not Christmas any more, but what's going to happen in January."

Anyone with information about the burglaries can call Garden Grove Police Investigator Chris Wasinger at 714-741-5827.

Bill Fogarty, executive director of United Labor Agency of Orange County, shows off his new security measures after the pantry in the underground parking garage was the scene where thieves stole more than $100,000 in donated toys and food destined for underprivileged children and families during the Thanksgiving weekend. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,
Bill Fogarty, executive director of United Labor Agency of Orange County, photographed the food pantry in the underground parking garage just as he found it, as it was, the scene where thieves stole more than $100,000 in donated toys and food destined for underprivileged children and families during the Thanksgiving weekend. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,
Bill Fogarty, executive director of United Labor Agency of Orange County, beefs up the security of the gate that guards his food pantry with chains after the pantry in the underground parking garage was the scene where thieves stole more than $100,000 in donated toys and food destined for underprivileged children and families. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Executive Director Bill Fogarty fields phone calls as Claudia and Alfonso Buitrago of Cypress bring in armfuls of toys as donations pour in to the United Labor Agency of Orange County, Friday, after more than $100,000 in donated toys and food were stolen in Garden Grove over the Thanksgiving holiday. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,

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